Courting Success: Final Four Activities for HISD Students

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March 07, 2011
 
The men’s NCAA “Final Four” competition is coming to Houston in early April, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation has partnered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association to offer Houston Independent School District (HISD) students a number of fun and educational activities leading up to that competition. Read more below to see how the district is “courting success” with Houston’s young people.
  • Big Dance—This three-day concert series will be open to music fans April 1–3. Admission is free.
  • Bracket Town—Fans of all ages can test their skills and enjoy championship action with basketball competitions, clinics, performances, and autograph sessions March 31–April 4. Ticket purchase required.
  • Final Four Dribble— Basketball fans age 18 and under can sign up to dribble a ball from Houston City Hall to the George R. Brown Convention Center on April 3. Participants will receive a free basketball and T-shirt. Registration required.
  • Final Four Friday—Come watch student athletes’ final practice before the big game at Reliant Stadium from noon to 4 p.m. on April 1, or watch Reese’s College All-Star Game that afternoon starting at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
  • Powerade Youth Clinics—Children ages 8–16 can learn about offense, defense, and healthy eating habits at one of four locations on April 2. A session entitled “Toolbox Tips: Just for Parents” is also available. Registration required.
  • Team Up 2 Win—Help prevent drunk driving by signing a pledge and you could win one of two grand prize trips to the men’s or women’s Final Four competition. Registration required.
Selected HISD campuses will also be taking part in a number of initiatives related to the Final Four competition, including Ticket to Reading Rewards (a literacy program), Middle School Madness (a special curriculum developed for students in grades 6–8), and Stars 4 Tomorrow (for at-risk teens).

In addition, high-school juniors from across the city participated in the NCAA Men’s Final Four Career in Sports Forum on February 19, in which professionals from the sports industry discussed the various career options available in that field.

For more information about these and other NCAA community projects, please click the links above or visit the organization’s website.